'Deal' cut over NSW smoking laws: Greens

Outdoor diners could have been enjoying smoke-free meals across NSW were it not for a "pre-election deal" cut with the clubs, the Greens say.

New anti-smoking laws came into effect in NSW on Monday, meaning smokers can no longer light up at many outdoor locations like public pools and transport stops.

The NSW government said smoking is now outlawed at locations such as children's playgrounds, public transport stations, sporting fields, public pools and entrances to NSW public buildings.

But NSW Greens MP John Kaye said a "deal" with ClubsNSW prevented the anti-smoking measures going further.

Due to a Memorandum of Understanding the state government signed with the industry's peak body, Mr Kaye said smoking will still be allowed in outdoor dining and gaming areas until July 2015.

"Outdoor diners in this state could have experienced relief from side-stream smoke from today if the Liberals and Nationals had not cut a pre-election deal," Mr Kaye said in a statement on Monday.

"The deal with the powerful clubs industry may have helped the O'Farrell government in the 2011 election but for the next two-and-a-half years every time a diner in an outdoor eating area is inundated with unpleasant and dangerous second-hand tobacco smoke, they will know who to thank."

Australian Medical Association (NSW) president Professor Brian Owler has urged businesses to start making the transition.

"I hope that restaurant and cafe owners start working on making the switch to smoke-free," he said in a statement.

Prof Owler said second-hand smoke was no less toxic for people than the smoke inhaled by smokers themselves.

"Widening the types of area covered by smoke-free legislation in NSW is a win for everyone.

"It will keep second-hand smoke out of the lungs of non-smokers and will add extra incentive for smokers to quit."

Cancer Council NSW's manager for policy and advocacy, Anita Tang, said smoking was one of the leading causes of preventable deaths in Australia, with more than 15,000 Australians dying from tobacco-related illnesses each year.

Mr Kaye said the Greens had tried to remove the delay during parliamentary debate in August last year, however Labor, the Shooters and Fishers Party and the Christian Democrats voted with the Coalition to defeat the amendment.

NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner said the "staged approach will help to ensure that the community and businesses have adequate time to adapt to the ban on smoking in commercial outdoor dining areas".